2026 Forum Council Candidates Announced

The Nominations Committee of The Forum Council is pleased to announce the following slate of candidates for the open positions in this year’s election:

• Angela Schaffer, Fund for Education Abroad
• Asia King, University of Maryland College Park
• Brenda Meira, Dublin City University (DCU)
• Brian Henry, Southern Illinois University
• Cara Lane-Toomey, Where There Be Dragons
• Daniel Ponce-Taylor, Intercultural Outreach Initiative (IOI)
• Dr. Gayathri Banavara, Community College of Philadelphia
• Miko McFarland, Expanish
• Vanessa Nichol-Peters, Fashion Institute of Technology

​Main Contacts from Forum member institutions and organizations will receive an email with voting information on Friday, April 3, 2026 (please check your spam/junk folders!). If you are the Main Contact and you do not receive the email ballot, please contact us at [email protected] 
 
The deadline to vote in this year’s Forum Council election is 5 p.m. ET on April 17, 2026.

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​Candidate Statements of Interest

Angela Schaffer

For the last three years, it's been my honor to serve the membership of the Forum and the field of education abroad as a member of the Forum on Education Abroad Council. I am seeking re-election to the Council to continue building resources and programming that will chart our field’s pathway in a landscape of unprecedented challenges. 

I have worked in international education for more than two decades, throughout which I have been an advocate for inclusion and a changemaker in creating access for students and professionals who face barriers to education abroad. My career has included experiences at a large public research university, a small private liberal arts college, and a non-profit international exchange organization. My lived experience studying abroad as a low-income first-generation college student has shaped my work as a longtime advocate of more inclusive education abroad. 

In my time as a member of the Forum Council, I have been a part of three specific initiatives. I co-led a working group dedicated to creating a toolkit for working with and creating ed abroad experiences for “new majority” learners (over the age of 26). I also led a working group that created the “FAFSA & Education Abroad Funding: Recent Changes & the Holistic Assessment of Need” resource available on the Forum’s website for all practitioners. Finally, in the last year, I served as an InnovateEA mentor for the Forum’s pitch competition at the annual conference in Nashville. I am currently working with Forum leadership to provide feedback from mentors and mentees as we continue building InnovateEA in the future.  
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The Forum on Education Abroad has provided me with the connections, resources and knowledge that have kept me active in education abroad and as a believer in our work as a field. I look forward to continuing to support the imperative work of the Forum. ​

Asia King​

Hello Global Educators! I am writing to express my interest in serving on The Forum Council, bringing a dual perspective as a practitioner and doctoral researcher whose work centers equity, access, and representation in education abroad. As a Program Manager for Global Learning Abroad at the University of Maryland and a PhD student in International Education Policy, I am deeply engaged with both the day-to-day realities of program implementation and the broader structures that shape who participates, leads, and makes decisions in our field. My research examines representation and equity in international education, with a particular focus on participation, leadership, and decision-making structures. Central to this work is the Seeing Me Initiative which I had the opportunity to pitch at the 2025 Innovation Competition on behalf of myself and my colleague D’Kiya Bynum. This initiative explores pipelines for inclusion and participatory design frameworks that position students and practitioners—especially those from historically marginalized communities—as co-creators of global learning. This scholarly lens informs how I approach program design, institutional strategy, and sector-wide conversations about standards, ethics, and innovation. In my professional role, I collaborate closely with faculty and academic departments to develop short-term and semester programs that intentionally center underrepresented students, integrate critical global learning outcomes, and address our world's most pressing challenges. I guide senior college leadership on strategic global learning priorities and lead initiatives—including our in-house Spain visa batch process—that reduce logistical and financial barriers for students. These experiences have sharpened my understanding of how policy, process, and institutional culture either enable or constrain access. I am particularly interested in contributing to the Council’s efforts to sustain innovation that meaningfully expands participation, elevates diverse leadership, and embeds equity into the core of education abroad practice. I would be honored to bring my practitioner experience, research agenda, and commitment to collaborative, equity-centered leadership to The Forum Council and to work alongside colleagues similarly dedicated to transforming our field.​

Brenda Meira​

As a Brazilian professional who moved to Ireland to pursue both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Marketing, my journey in higher education began with the challenge of being the only Latin American student in my cohort and the first-generation in my family to study abroad. This experience instilled in me a profound desire to represent my peers and support students from similar backgrounds in navigating the path to higher education. Today, my mission is to demonstrate to students from all backgrounds that studying abroad is not only accessible but a transformative reality that will change them personally and professionally.

In my current role as Regional Advisor at Dublin City University (DCU), I ensure that students remain central to every strategic decision. I actively collaborate with faculty and senior management to develop study abroad programs that are student-focused, improve institutional access, and bridge the educational paths between Ireland and the Americas. My professional expertise is rooted in over six years of experience in international recruitment and managing semester-long study abroad programs across North and South America. I have a proven track record of using data-driven CRM strategies and automation to enhance the student journey and improve accessibility.

Furthermore, my service with the Forum at the Loren Ringer Award Selection Committee was a defining moment for me. Witnessing the incredible impact of dedicated professionals in our field directly inspired me to take a more active leadership role in the industry and run for this Council. I bring a strong commitment to equity, having led award-winning initiatives like the Young Future Leaders programme in Ireland. As a Forum Council member, I will merge this passion with my expertise in digital innovation and educational equity. I am eager to contribute to collaborative efforts that develop inclusive, sustainable global learning resources, ensuring that the next generation of international students has the support and representation they deserve.​

Brian Henry​

Our world is wrought with conflict and contempt for our fellow man, yet amidst it all, there is always hope. I believe the Forum community is a beacon that has the capability and influence to be a guiding light for future generations. Due to the ever-changing and unpredictable nature of global events, it is essential that our field holds itself accountable to a higher standard, to continue to shine brightly and to do good everywhere we may go.

​With a humble heart, I would strive to bring important and multidimensional forms of diversity to the Forum Council—diversity of identity, lived experience, institutional contexts, and professional journey. As an Asian American adoptee, raised in the rural US, who was a former member of the U.S. military, I have navigated complex questions of belonging, representation, service, and identity throughout my life. These experiences deeply inform my empathetic, listening-forward approach to professional engagement and my commitment to inclusive global learning.

I am proud of my international thought-leadership on topics like gender equity in study abroad, intersectionality in global learning, and belonging in international education demonstrated through conference presentations, workshops, articles, and panels—adding critical perspectives underrepresented in many aspects of our field.

My voice would strengthen the Council’s ability to serve an increasingly diverse population of institutions and practitioners; having worked at public & private universities, regional campuses, and in offices with vastly differing levels of support. I have a deep appreciation for resource disparities and structural realities that shape institutions’ abilities to engage with education abroad.

Leading with humility, warmth, authenticity, sincerity, and a fierce devotion to cultivating a community of caring, I try to create spaces where difference is welcomed, where people feel seen, and where difficult questions can be examined constructively. My presence would help cultivate a culture that mirrors the inclusive, globally minded world we hope to build for students.​

Cara Lane-Toomey​

I have spent much of my career focused on the part of education abroad that is often less visible: the systems and structures that make complex international programs work. Over two decades in the field, my work has centered on building and managing those systems across nonprofit program administration, university partnerships, and experiential education programs, often in less-common study abroad destinations. In my role as Director of Operations at Where There Be Dragons, I focus on building and maintaining the systems that support immersive, place-based, and experiential programs across 18 countries. A significant part of that is translating big-picture program or organizational values into operational practice.

I have been involved with the Forum since 2012 as a Professional Certification Assessor, committee member, conference presenter, and peer reviewer. I have also relied on the Forum’s Standards and resources in my day-to-day work. These experiences have given me a strong appreciation for the role the Forum plays in supporting thoughtful, collaborative improvement.  

If elected, I would bring a perspective grounded in how those Standards are put into practice across different institutional and programmatic settings. Over the past decade at Dragons, my work has involved building organizational systems, supporting distributed teams, and developing structures that support the in-field staff. Earlier in my career at Amideast, I managed education abroad programs in the Middle East and North Africa, working within more traditional program structures and in close partnership with university and government partners. Prior to that, I worked in the U.S. Congress, and my graduate research focused on the relationship between government policy and the expansion of study abroad in the Middle East. Together, these experiences have shaped how I approach building the structures that allow experiential, place-based programs to operate effectively and responsibly.

As a Council member, I would be particularly interested in work that connects the Standards to the operational realities of programs across a range of contexts, including less-common destinations and programs that rely on distributed teams and place-based models.​

Daniel Ponce-Taylor​

I am honored to once again stand for election to the Forum Council. Last year, I had the privilege of being included on the election slate. While I was not ultimately elected, my commitment to serving the Forum and advancing our field has only deepened. The urgency of the challenges facing education abroad—climate instability, geopolitical complexity, and the need for more equitable global partnerships—makes this work more important than ever. As Sustainability & Strategic Partnerships Director at IOI, I lead climate action strategy and partnership development across Latin America. I have successfully developed and stewarded partnerships with a wide range of institutions, including community colleges, minority-serving institutions, HBCUs, and universities across and in the Global South, as well as local NGOs and grassroots organizations. My work focuses on embedding sustainability into program design and strengthening reciprocal, ethically grounded relationships that benefit both students and host communities. In addition, I serve as Vice President on the Global Board of CANIE and chair the Sustainability Action Group at the Accademia Europea di Firenze, contributing to governance and institutional sustainability efforts across regions. I also supported the development of the Forum’s Guidelines on Advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. I am a connector by nature. Throughout my career, I have built bridges between institutions and host communities, between sustainability advocates and operational leaders, and between strategic vision and practical implementation. I believe the Council’s effectiveness depends on this kind of collaborative leadership. As a Spanish professional based in Mexico, I bring a non-U.S., globally engaged perspective aligned with the Forum’s commitment to broader international representation. I remain as enthusiastic and committed as ever to contributing strategic insight, governance experience, and action-oriented sustainability leadership to the Council’s work. I would be honored to serve.​

Dr. Gayathri Banavara​ 

I am honored to be considered for service on The Forum Council. As Chair and Assistant Professor of Business Leadership, Fashion, and Hospitality at the Community College of Philadelphia, my work centers on expanding access to meaningful global learning experiences for students who have historically been excluded from education abroad. I believe deeply in The Forum’s mission, and I am committed to contributing my experience, perspective, and collaborative spirit to advance it.

​My professional journey spans more than 18 years in global industry across India, Canada, and the United States, followed by over a decade in higher education. This cross‑sector background shapes my understanding of global competence, ethical leadership, and the skills students need to thrive in an interconnected world. It also informs my academic focus on Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability—areas that align closely with The Forum’s emphasis on responsible global engagement.

I also want to share a bit about my connection with The Forum. My association began in 2023 through the CC/FEA inaugural grant, which introduced me to The Forum and its important work in the field of education abroad. I was fortunate to present at the AAC&U 2024 Annual Conference alongside Elizabeth Frohlich on my experience with the CC/FEA grant and The Forum. I have attended The Forum’s annual conference every year since 2023. I also volunteer every year at the First-Time Attendee Welcome Breakfast and served on the 2025 Annual Conference Committee. These experiences have deepened my understanding of The Forum’s values and strengthened my commitment to advancing global learning within the community college sector.

At CCP, I serve as a COIL champion, leading initiatives that bring global learning into the curriculum through both travel and virtual exchange. I have designed and taught globally focused courses, built international partnerships, and presented at The Forum on Education Abroad on creating impactful, accessible programs. I am particularly passionate about ensuring that community college students—many of whom are first‑generation, adult learners, or balancing work and family—have equitable opportunities to engage with the world.

If selected for the Council, I would be especially interested in contributing to projects that expand global learning access for community colleges; strengthen COIL and virtual exchange as scalable models; integrate sustainability and CSR frameworks into program design; and support faculty development for globally engaged teaching. I bring administrative experience, a global professional background, and a deep commitment to equity and innovation.

I would be honored to support The Forum’s work and help shape the future of global education.​

Miko McFarland​

I'm an international educator with 16+ years of experience developing programs and partnerships across both university and provider settings. I previously led education abroad at the University of Kentucky for nine years, supporting approximately 1,200 students abroad annually. I now serve as the Director of U.S. Partnerships & Operations at Expanish, a locally-owned and operated provider based in Spain and Latin America. 

Working across sectors gives me a holistic understanding of institutional priorities, program delivery realities, and the student experience. I believe Council representation should reflect the full breadth of our field - including organizations rooted in the communities that host our students. 

If elected, I will bring a forward-looking, experience-informed perspective to the Council. As co-chair of the Working Group on AI in Education Abroad, I helped lead the development of The Forum's AI resource guide. I also contribute to publications - including The Forum's 2024 work, "Convergence of Litigation, Policy & Standards." I regularly facilitate workshops, webinars, and conference sessions to support member professional development. In 2024, I was honored to receive NAFSA's Lily Von Klemperer Award.

I am committed to increasing student access to education abroad and expanding practitioner access to professional development. As a former first generation college student from southwest Missouri, I am here because others invested in me through mentorship and community. I want to give back in ways that advance our field so we continue to be innovative, inclusive, and grounded in shared responsibility. I would be honored to represent your voice on the Council. Thank you for your consideration.​

Vanessa Nichol-Peters

I am honored to submit my candidacy for a second term on the Forum Council. The last three years serving on the Council have been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career. 

I began my first term in 2023, while based in Florence, Italy looking for a way to connect with the wider global Education Abroad community, and to ensure that voices from the field were heard and considered. During this tenure, I worked with Forum leadership to create inclusive spaces for the global community of Education Abroad for critical discussion and targeted support. My contributions include serving on the EMEA Athens Conference Committee, facilitating a Member Mingle on US-Europe connections, supporting the Forum’s inaugural Regional Seminar in Florence and the first European Institute in Strasbourg. A personal highlight was joining the plenary panel on Global Polarization at the 2025 Toronto Conference, a moment that underscored the importance and reach of our collective work. In June 2025, my professional journey brought me to the U.S. and to the Fashion Institute of Technology, where I also transitioned into the role of Forum Council Chair. In this capacity, I collaborate with the Council, Board and staff to ensure our Working Groups, Communities of Practice and Committees remain robust and representative of our evolving field.

My perspective on Education Abroad is informed by 25 years of experience working with a provider, small liberal arts university, and now a public institution. My roots in Southern Africa, my time as an international student in the US, and study abroad experience in India have instilled in me a deep respect for local communities and knowledge. These diverse lenses allow me to advocate for Forum as an inclusive, interconnected global community. It has been a privilege to serve the Forum for the last three years, and I remain dedicated to building the bridges necessary for our field to thrive. I would be honored to continue this work through re-election for a second term.